Fasig-Tipton Saratoga
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, March 15, 2025 3rd-NKY, ¥10,600,000 ($72k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m KNOCK SHRINE (JPN) (c, 3, Omaha Beach--Knock, by Tapit) is out of a daughter of Grade III winner Fencelineneighbor (Wild Rush) who was hammered down to...
Since the last installment of this column, the No. 1-ranked contender, First Resort (Uncle Mo), has been declared off the Triple Crown trail because of a hairline fracture, and no fewer than four other top 12 horses were bet down to favoritism but lost points-awarding graded stakes. Even after this past Saturday's trio of preps for the GI Kentucky Derby, trying to figure out a new pecking order remains challenging, like trying to coax clarity out of chaos. 1) CITIZEN BULL (c, Into Mischief--No Joke, by Distorted Humor) O-SF Racing...
'TDN Rising Star' Hall of Fame (Gun Runner) enjoyed a beautiful trip in transit, pulled out for the drive and out-bobbed Komorebino Omoide (Jpn) (California Chrome) to take out the GIII Mineshaft Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Favored at 8-5 while in search of his third consecutive victory following an eight-month layoff, the $1.4-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate box-seated the 8 1/2-furlong contest as Maycocks Bay (Speightstown) led in advance of the Japanese-bred import through modest early fractions. Full of run on the turn beneath Jose Ortiz, Hall of Fame angled...
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are four sophomore fillies of interest for this weekend running at Tokyo and Kyoto Racecourses, with American-breds nicely represented at stakes level: Saturday, February 8, 2025 3rd-KYO, ¥11,850,000 ($78k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m RENENET (f, 3, American Pharoah--Family Meeting, by Sky Mesa), a $325,000 Keeneland September acquisition by Dr. Masatake Iida,...
The first foal by the Grade I-placed 'TDN Rising Star' Loggins (Ghostzapper--Beyond Blame, by Blame), a colt, was born Jan. 23, 2025, at Endeavor Farm in Midway, Kentucky. The bay is the fourth produce from his dam, Coal Creek Farm's 12-year-old My Heart Goes On (Albertus Maximus), a two-time stakes winner of better than $132,000. Third dam One for You (Dayjur) produced a pair of black-type winners, including the filly Una Palabra to the cover of Ghostzapper's 'Rising Star' son McCraken, and was herself a half-sister to two full stakes...
The bandwagon for Barnes was already pretty crowded heading into Saturday's GII San Vicente S. at Santa Anita. It now may be next to impossible to find a standing-room-only spot after the Bob Baffert-trained son of Into Mischief uncorked a crusher of a performance that left four rivals reeling in his 5 ½-length wake. I have no idea if the two sprint victories at the root of this $3.2 million FTSAUG colt's foundation will blossom into a blanket of roses on the first Saturday in May. I am pretty certain,...
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday and Monday running at Chukyo Racecourse: Sunday, January 5, 2025 3rd-CKO, ¥10,600,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m HUG (JPN) (c, 3, Justify--Fleet Bertie, by Afleet Alex) made a single visit to the races as a 2-year-old, finishing a good second over 1800 meters...
5th-Gulfstream, $40,000, Msw, 12-28, 2yo, 7f, 1:23.46, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. TAPPAN STREET (c, 2, Into Mischief--Virginia Key {GSP}, by Distorted Humor), a $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate, leveled off nicely in deep stretch to graduate at first asking. The 2-1 second-choice was under a ride in third and appearing to be heading the wrong way rounding the far turn. Tipped off the rail as longshot Bob Mo (Uncle Mo) kicked for home with a three-length advantage, Tappan Street switched over to his right lead and powered on by to graduate...
7th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 3:55 p.m. ET. The debuting $3.2-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate Barnes (c, 2, Into Mischief--All American Dream, by American Pharoah) is set to become the first starter at Churchill Downs for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert since the lifting of his well-documented, corporation-imposed three-year suspension. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Barnes worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 (2/8) at Baffert's Santa Anita base Nov. 20 before heading to Louisville. His third dam is MGISW Dream Supreme (Seeking the Gold), responsible for GISW Majestic Warrior (A.P....
1st-AQU, $90k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, post time: 12:10 p.m. ET KEEPTHEDREAMALIVE (Into Mischief) makes her first trip to the races for owner/breeder Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and trainer Bill Mott. Tommy Town acquired dam It Tiz Well (Tiznow) for $230,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September sale and campaigned her with Jerry Hollendorfer to five wins from 10 starts, including a two-length upset of eventual champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road) in the 2017 GI Cotillion Stakes. The homebred outworked 142 other horses when breezing a half-mile in :48 1/5 (17/159) over...
Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook T. Smith's Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), a $2.3-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling sale topper turned 'TDN Rising Star' turned $7-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner, will return to the races for a 4-year-old campaign, according to a post on X by Coolmore America Thursday afternoon. Sierra Leone arrived at Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky from Del Mar--site of the 2024 Breeders' Cup last weekend--on Monday and will be freshened for 2025. The full text of Coolmore's post appears...
7th-Horseshoe Indianapolis, $32,000, Msw, 9-26, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:38.10, gd, 1 1/2 lengths. INDIGO STUNNER (f, 2, Authentic--Blue Gallina, by Street Sense) became the 10th winner for her freshman sire (by Into Mischief) with a good-looking victory trying two turns for the first time. A promising third going a mile at Kentucky Downs Aug. 31, the $310,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase argued the early pace and was eased back into third by Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. as they hit the backstretch. Traveling comfortably on the back of the leaders through the middle...